Internal-combustion engine.



A. B. GOODSPEED.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. 1918.

1,302,653. Patented May (5; 1919.

IN l/EN TOR WITNESS:

UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE.

ARTHUR B. GOODSPEED, OF HADLYME, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Specification ofx-Letters Patent.

Patented May 6, 1919.

ments in InternalC0mbustion Engines, of

which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines of the general type of that shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 857,730, dated June 25, 1907, and has for its object to improve the ignition in engines of this type. In accordance with the invention a volume of gas or of gaseous mixture, supplied from a source external to the main fuel supply, that is, to the combustion chamber of the engine, is at the proper time ignited and discharged directly into the fuel mixture to ignite the same. By supplying the igniting charge from a source external to the combustion chamber of the engine and so constructing the engine as to permit the igniting charge to be discharged directly into the combustion chamber, all difiiculties incident to the presenceof exhaust gases in the combustion chamber are eliminated and it becomes unnecessary to provide a garret or space into which such exhaust gases may be driven ahead of the fresh charge. Ignition also is thereby made more certain and more exactly controllable in relation to the movement of the main piston. The invention will be more fully explained hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing in which it is illustrated and in which the single figure shows, in vertical section, so much of an internal combustion engine of the type referred to as is necessary to enable the invention to be understood.

The engine in which the invention is curbodied may be of any suitablev construction. In the engine shown in the drawing the water-jacketed main or working cylinder a receives the usual trunk piston b which is connected by a pitman c to a crankshaft (Z. The cylinder may be provided, substantially as in the engine shown in said Letters Patent No. 857 ,7 30, with an exhaust port and valve, as at c, and with an inlet and valve for the admission of auxiliary air. The main charge is received through the head of the engine through the valve shown at g, a connection to an oil supply being indlcated at g and a connection to an air supply being indicated at 9 The charge is delivered under pressure into a combustion chamber a which communicates through a narrower passage a with the compression space at the head of the cylinder.

At a convenient point "in the wall of the combustion chamber, preferably in the somewhat narrow throat a is formed aport h which communicates with a cylinder h, a plunger k being located in the cylinder h. Located in the wall of the cylinder h, at such a point that it will be uncovered by the plunger k in its rearward stroke, is an inlet port 72, through which the igniting charge may be admitted. As shown in the drawing, the admission of the igniting charge may be controlled by a needle-valve h which has a connection, as at if, to an oil supply and a connection, as at it to an air supply, preferably under pressure. The plunger may be reciprocated in proper timin relation to the movements of the piston b, by any suitable means. As shown, the outer end of the plunger is connected by a link 70 to a bellcrank lever 70 the short arm of which is connected by a link or pitman 70 to a plunger is, the latter being reciprocated by ,a steep cam 70 on an auxiliary cam-shaft In which is driven by any suitable means from the crankshaft d and in proper synchronism therewith. The spring A," acts upon the bellcrank k in opposition to the cam 76 and the construction is such that the rearward movement of the plunger is is relatively slow while the forward movement is very quick.

In order to prevent the passage into the cylinder 72. of any exhaust gases from the combustion chamber of the engine and to insure the formation within the cylinder h,

during the rearward movement of the plunger 70, of a vacuum of proper degree, a spring-pressed valve on is located in the engine head, in alinement with the port 71. so that, during the rearward movement of the plunger is, the port It is kept closed, while during the forward movement of the plunger the igniting charge in the cylinder 71/ is delivered into the combustion chamber of the engine, being spread fanwise with the tapered head of the valve m, so as to insure ignition of the main charge throughout its volume.

The cam 70 being properly timed with respect to the movement of the piston b it As soon as the port it is cleared by the plunger the igniting charge is discharged lnto the cylinder h and thereupon the plunger is kicked forward by the cam k with such rapid movement as to eflect compression of the igniting charge within the cylinder h to such a degree as to bring about ignition thereof, the igniting charge in a state of combustion being forced out from the cylinder h, as the plunger is approaches the limit of its forward stroke, into the combustion chamber a, a whereby igni tion of the main charge is accomplished, as already set forth.

It will be obvious that various changes in details of construction and arrangement may be made to suit different conditions of use and that the invention, except as pointed out in the accompanying claims, is not limited to the precise details of construction and arrangement shown and described herein.

I claim as my invention:

combination of a working cylinder, means to introduce the main charge at the head end of the cylinder, an igniting cylinder in communication with the combustion chamber of the working cylinder, means to admit an igniting charge to the igniting cylinder from a source external to the combustion chamber of the engine, and means to compress and ignite the igniting charge within the igniting cylinder and to discharge it in a state of combustion into the. combustion chamber of the working cylinder.

2, In an internal combustion engine, -the combination of a working cylinder, means to introduce the main chargeat the head end of'the cylinder, an igniting cylinder in communication with the combustion chamber of the working cylinder, a valve normally closing communication between the igniting cylinder and the combustion chamber and opening toward the combustion chamber, means to admit the igniting charge to the igniting cylinder from a source external to the combustion chamber of the engine, and means to compress and ignite the igniting charge within the igniting cylinder and to discharge it in a state of combustion into the combustion chamber of the working cylinder- 3. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a working cylinder, means to introduce the main charge at the head end of the cylinder, an ignitingcylinder in communication with the combustion chamber of the working cylinder, a plunger in said igniting cylinder, said igniting cylinder having a port-uncovered by the plunger in its rearward movement, and means to admit an igniting charge to the igniting cylinder through said port from a source external to the combustion chamber of the engine.

4. In an internal combustion engine, the

I p b h combination of a working cylinder, means to 1. 11 an internal com ustion engine, t e

introduce the main charge at the head end of the cylinder, an igniting cylinder in communication with the combustion chamber of the working cylinder, a plunger in said igniting cylinder, said igniting cylinder having a port uncovered by the plunger in its rearward movement, means to admit an igniting charge 'to the igniting cylinder through said port from a source external to the combustion chamber of the engine, and a valve normally closing communication between the combustion chamber of the working cylinder and the igniting cylinder and opening toward the combustion chamber of the working cylinder.

This specification signed this 1st day of February 1918.

ARTHUR B. GOODSPEED. 

